Citation

Osman SL. Violence Against Women 2016; 22(7): 767-779.

Affiliation

Salisbury University, MD, USA slosman@salisbury.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801215610864

PMID

26490506

Abstract

Two studies examined rape victim empathy based on personal rape victimization and acknowledgment labeling. Female undergraduates (Study 1, n = 267; Study 2, n = 381) from a Northeast U.S. midsize public university completed the Rape-Victim Empathy Scale and Sexual Experiences Survey. As predicted, both studies found that acknowledged "rape" victims reported greater empathy than unacknowledged victims and nonvictims. Unexpectedly, these latter two groups did not differ. Study 1 also found that acknowledged "rape" victims reported greater empathy than victims who acknowledged being "sexually victimized." Findings suggest that being raped and acknowledging "rape" together may facilitate rape victim empathy.

Language: en